Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1004126
68 / the tasting panel / july 2018 BLUE REVIEWS 91 Fasoli Gino 2014 Pieve Vecchia Soave, Bianca Veronese IGT ($21) Pleasing golden color; rich and mellow with ripe fruit; toasty, lush, and balanced with lasting acidity. 100% Garganega grown on sandy soil by a winery adhering to organic and Biodynamic practices. M.M. IMPORTS 88 Château Chantal Celebrate Semi-Dry Sparkling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan ($15) Despite committing the serious infraction of using the word "Champagne" on the label, this is a pleasant semi-sweet sparkler : clean, smooth, tangy, and long. 88 Snowbirds Vintners 2016 Grüner Veltliner, Lake Chelan AVA, Washington ($18) Crisp, refined, ripe, and dense from this "vacation-inspired," sustainably made brand; polished, simple, and balanced; a nice domestic take on this Austrian variety. 90 Steele Wines 2015 Writer's Block Syrah, Cana Springs Vineyard, Lake County ($18) Dark, juicy, and fragrant with blackberry and spice. Jed Steele does it again with this clean, rich, and balanced wine. 90 Ponzi Vineyards 2017 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($19) Elegant and bright with minerality and flavorful fruit notes that linger ; a smooth and tangy winner from Oregon. VINTUS WINES 91 Domaine La Croix Montjoie 2014 Bourgogne- Vézelay L'Impatiente Chardonnay, France ($21) Silky with tangy citrus, crisp, bright minerality, and elegant structure; 100% Chardonnay hand-harvested from clay- and limestone-based soil. SHIVERICK IMPORTS 92 Domaine Raphaël Chopin 2015 Régnié La Ronze, Régnié AOC, France ($24) Deep, dark ruby color ; smooth and sumptuous with cassis and cherry, this is what Beaujolais should aspire to be. 100% Gamay manually harvested from schist and pink granite soil. SHIVERICK IMPORTS 90 Baileyana 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Paragon Vineyard, Edna Valley ($24) Medium-light pink with a strawberry nose; smooth, dry, and crisp with racy acidity; smooth texture with a long finish. 92 Silver Wines 2013 Cabernet Franc, Santa Barbara County ($25) Creamy and juicy with lively plum and deep berry fruit; rich, elegant, and balanced; an excellent effort from this talented producer. 91 Pighin 2016 Estate Pinot Grigio, Collio DOC, Italy ($18) Fresh, bright, and austere with minerality, citrus notes, fine structure, and length from a producer that takes this variety seriously. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 90 Tenuta Campo al Mare 2017 Vermentino Bolgheri, Bolgheri DOC ($20) Lush and smooth with tangy acidity and fresh fruit; rich and balanced, it's yet another lovely bottling from the Folonari family. KOBRAND WINE & SPIRITS 90 Divum Wines 2016 Chardonnay, Grava Vineyard, Monterey AVA ($20) Silky and bright with a soft and creamy texture; lush but showing a lively pineapple structure; a complex well-made wine at a good value. 88 Château Souverain 2016 Chardonnay, North Coast AVA ($14) Clean, balanced, and long from a California winery dating back to 1944; silky, fresh, and simple yet appealing. 91 Tiki Sound 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($16) Fresh, spicy nose; crisp, racy, and tangy; bracing and lively, this is a charming wine without the usual regional funk. WINE TREES USA 91 Bonny Doon Vineyard 2017 Vin Gris de Cigare, Central Coast AVA ($18) A light pink blend of six Rhône varieties: 57% Grenache, 18% Grenache Blanc, 9% Mourvèdre, 6% Roussanne, 5% Carignane, and 5% Cinsaut. Tangy and bright with soft edges; a good impression of a Provençal rosé.